Colfax UMC Celebrates Renewal, Apportionments Paid in Full

"I used to feel so bad, when we had bills I could not pay!" exclaimed Pam Calhoun, treasurer at Colfax United Methodist Church. "This is new and different. It's exciting."

Why is Pam so excited? Colfax UMC celebrated making the final 2012 Conference apportionment payment, by burning the apportionment bill at the church's August Apportionment Luncheon.

"Colfax UMC is a church in renewal," writes George Beckman. "Membership is up. Giving is up. Parishioners hardly want to go home, after church."

"The church made a conscious effort to increase the church's ability to pay apportionments," Beckman continued. "Several articles appeared in the church newsletter; Dottie Vieira's apportionments jar, for extra change and small bills, netted a surprising increase; Ruth Beckman and Swend Miller organized monthly apportionment luncheons; and parishioners were generous with extra mile giving and in donating and helping cook the meals."

Colfax UMC is one of 37 churches in the California-Nevada Annual Conference that have paid their 2012 apportionment contributions in full. An additional 138 churches are at 90 percent.

"I am so thankful to the United Methodists who work so hard to fully participate in the mission and ministry of The United Methodist Church," said the Rev. Linda Caldwell, Conference superintendent for mission collaboration. "Apportionments support so much that brings healing and hope to people next door and around the world. Churches are helped to be more vital, new leaders are being trained, and the work of compassion and justice is made real so that as disciples of Jesus Christ we really are transforming the world every day."

Note that apportionment payments must be received at the Conference office on or before Jan. 16, 2013.

Contributions are used within the Conference, the Western Jurisdiction, and the global UMC, in support of worthy causes such as the World Service Fund, Africa University Fund, the Jurisdictional Conference Administration Fund, and more.

But how much goes to what?

The Apportionment calculator offers an easy answer. The calculator lets you see your church's apportionment dollars at work – in one easy click! To use the calculator: Select your local church from the pull-down menu (found on the blue bar) to display your church's share. See how your church's contribution compares with the Conference's, or with other churches within the Conference. Run your cursor over the pie chart to display your share.

For more information about the funds, click on the fund's name in the table.